The Egyptian by Mika Waltari is a stunning historical novel that follows the journey of Sinuhe, an exiled Egyptian physician, over a period of decades as he searches for purpose and a home. Spanning Ancient Egypt and the Mediterranean during the height of its power, The Egyptian is full of gripping adventure and profound insight into the human condition.
The novel opens in the heyday of the 18th Dynasty in Egypt. Sinuhe, a physician at the court of the Pharaoh Akhnaton, is exiled shortly after the Pharaoh’s death, which causes him to set off on a journey of self-discovery. Sinuhe travels from Egypt to Canaan and eventually Babylon, where he learns about the culture and politics of other societies. His travels take him to Hittite Empire, where he is adopted as an honorary son of the king; to Crete, where he falls in love and is briefly wed; and eventually to Mycenae, where he experiences a power struggle that takes a dramatic turn. Along the way, Sinuhe struggles to find his place in a world that is constantly in flux, while simultaneously coming to grips his own mortality.
The saga of Sinuhe is a unifying thread that ties together the many distinct pieces that make up The Egyptian. Waltari builds a vivid and compelling world rife with ritual and ceremony that evoke a richness of being and emotions. He captures the expansiveness of a world with many different cultures and peoples, while all the while exploring the limits of understanding and love between cultures, even in the midst of conflict.
At the same time, however, the novel is ultimately a story of personal redemption. Sinuhe is an at times conflicted protagonist whose journey serves as an exploration of his own philosophy of life, an exploration that leads to the novel’s powerful conclusion. Along the way, Sinuhe faces personal danger, spiritual temptation, and difficult choices, experiences which make him question his own values and beliefs.
The Egyptian is a sweeping, epic novel, a great work that captivates readers from start to finish. Waltari’s prose is poetic and evocative and helps to pull the reader into the book, as does his vivid and vivid characterization. The Egyptian is a captivating adventure that is sure to leave its mark on readers, offering an unforgettable journey and a deep exploration of the human condition.
